Fluid meter



June 5, 1945. G. s. BINCKLEY FLUID METER Filed April 1, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1,

inventor,

of Figure 2,

Patented June 5, 1945 FLUID METER George S. Binckley, Los Angeles,Calif., assignor,

by decree ,of court, and mesne assignmentsto SydneyWilliarn Binckley, astrustee Application April1, 1941,1 Serial No. 386,229

14 Cla ims. (o1.732 12)" This invention relates to improvements in fluidmeters generally, and more specifically to an instrumentality adapted tobe placed in a fluid conduit, and so functioning that .when fluid ismoving through the conduit, there will be a dif- An object of thepresent invention is to so mount the Pitot. tubes that they may beinterposed in the path of fluid passing through a contracted throat orreadily removed therefrom, which permits cleaning of the tubes, orrepair thereof. The construction is also such that during the timethePitot tubes are beinginserted int and removedfrom the contractedthroat, no stoppage in the flow of fluid is necessary or required.

With the above mentioned and otherobjects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel and useful provision; :formation, construction,assoelation, and relative arrangement of parts, members, and features,all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings,described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Inthedrawings: w I Figure l is an elevational view of oneform of fluidmeter shown incooperation with a pipe line through which a fluid or gasis-passed, the weight rate of flow of which is to be indicated bythemeter, I I Y Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of means; inter- ,posed inthe fluid pipe line, and for ming' apart of the meter, I

Figure 3 is a sectional viewon the line 3 3 Figure 4 is an enlargeddetail on the line 4 -4 of Figure 3, I I

, Figure 5 is a sectional view of a detail; shown in broken lines inFigure 1. H I

2 is apipe line which is cut to receivemeans 3, then ie ans 3 beingdetailed in Figures 2,3 and 4. The means 3. constitutes ,an orifice,orcontracted throat, through which the fluid to be measured must pass,together with devices placed within the orifice or contracted throat andso functioning that when fluid is moving through said oriflce'or throat,there will be a difference .in pressure effect in the said devicesrepresentative of the actual velocity of the flowing stream. The meter Iis directly connected to the means 3for indicatingsuchdifferentialpressure. Spe

cifioally, means 3'inc1udes a casting providedwith flanged ends 4 and"5adapted to mate with like flangedends' fi and! on'pipe 2. These flangesmay beprovided with aligned'transverse bores, through which are passedbolts 8 carrying nuts 9 for securing the flanges together. Within thecasting is acontracted throat member I01 Surface I I of member II] is intheform of an ellipti cal curve and the approach cone is tangent to thecurve. At the zone of greatest diameter is an annular external flange orfoot "I2, adapted to fit tightly within the confines of the casing. Theopposite end portion, being the portion of minimum diameter, maybesupported by an annular rib I3 formed in the casting. This annular ribis provided with a pair of annular shoulders I 4 and I 5, the contractedthroatbeing provided with an externalannular flange I6 adapted to reston the annular shoulder I4. A ring I! is provided with an annular flangeI8, which flange rests upon the shoulder I5, This ring is adapted to beslightly; spaced frornthe "end I9 of said throat member ID, the spacingbeing indicated by 20. The ring and the contracted throat member areheldin working relationship by means of Screw bolts 2|, cooperativelyengaging the annular flanges I6, and I8. Thi space, indicated at 2B, isan annular slit, and for the purpose of the present description, thesaid ring may be con sidered, as a part of the contracted throat member,althoughfor convenience of construction, the

device may be formed as shown inFigureS.

The casting 3has integrally formed therewith a box member, the sides23,24 and ends 25, 2. of which are formed by flanging the casting bothinwardly and outwardly relative to the generally curvedportion 21thereof, and a base 28 integrally formed withthe sides and ends. Thisbase carries a portion of the annular rib I3., A cap29 is, adapted toflt over the top of thebo x and be held thereover by means of threadedbolts 30 passed through elongated ears 3I spacedly formed on said capand into threaded openings 32 in enlargerne'nts 33, formed on thesidewalls of the box. The base 28 is provided with an opening 34 withinwhich is fitted a shouldered valve seat 35. Ajvalve 36. is carried onone end of an arrn 31, the opposite end of the arm beingsecured to aspindle 38 passed through a'casting, assee the tated. to: rotate-the;sleevev l dotted lines v39 (Figure 4), through an enlargement 4!) formedto receive a gland 4| held in place by a gland nut 42, the gland nutsurrounding the the seat asshdwn the dotted line. position. of.

Figure 2, and the full line position of Figure 3.

Within the chamber 44 of the box are a pair of: arms 45 and 46, carriedby sleeve 41. This sleeve is adapted to be interposed between twoannular." studs 48 and 49, projecting inwardly of the. chamber 44 andformed on tbe.side..wall'si23 andl. 24. A transverse bore 50 extendsthrough; the side walls of the box at the zone of said studs 48 and 49.This bore is counter-bored at- 51 and 52; and screw-threadedlycounter-bored at, 53 and. 54. A tube 55, provided with a division wall56; ha order: that the bores should"not.;be continuous'.. is:passedithrough. the. bore. ac and. the. counter:- bores;v and iscentrallynpinn'edi at, the walls 5.6. by means 5:1 to: sleeve 4-;11,Packing"glands 58 are fitted; in; the: counter boress 5A; andzi52 and:gland nuts 59; and 6H... cooperate-with. the; threaded. counteri-boresand 54;, respectively, for: compressing: the: glands about. theperiphery of? the tube; Thetube carries externally oi the; glandnut 59av fiat-faced; enlargement 641;. whereby... 4

through. a suitable wrench the: tube-: may" be. 1:04

Ifhe outermost: ends-of? the a-rms.=-45. andv '46-.carxy PiJBOlTbILbGSIThe; army 45 carries a positive; Pitot tube 45?" and the arm; 461a.static.- tuber tfia. These. tubesare ofwellhnown. construction, and.willtnot. be detailed; other. than-.130: say that the; statlc:t1lbe ispointed, as shown. in. Figured; and: transversely provided with openingscommunicating; the interior of, the tubawhile; the. positive; tubes isopen-ended. Both armst45; and 46: are; provided. passageways. 6 2communicating;- with. the interior: ct each Pitot'. tube and. saidopenings". 62. inturncommunicateawith the interiorrot the; tube. 55;,As. the tube 55 is divided as. to passageway; thestatic Pitot tubecommunicateswith the bore at; 63, andthe bore-of the: pQSltlVGrPitOhtube with the, bore at: 84. Each arm; 45.- and 46. is, enlargedattitsfreeiendi and-transversely bored as shown. at $5. flangeand witha; closed. screw-threaded end- 61. Each tube. is. passed through. a.bore 65 to position the. flangefifi. against the enlargemenhof.its-respective arm, with anut. or the like. 68; on the screw-threadedend iii to secure. the tube. on said arm. and in. such. aposition.thatthe bore of. said tube. directly communicates withthebore. inthearm.. Itis to be observedthat. the Pi'tot tubes may be. swung. into. thechamber 44. or. out of, the chamber. intothefiow pathof, any fluidpassingv through; the contracted throat it); when the. valve 3,5115inopen position. i

The'pogsitive. and static. Bitot tubes point up-,

. stream, .andlthe tubes are. placed in. substantially the same crosssection-alplane with their'openings in. the. contracted. throat. member:IU," at the zone; of: minimum. diameter thereof. with the point: ofmeasurement. at a distance from center of; the axis of. said contractedthroat of. approximately .7. of theradius of, thethroat; This, point inthe minimum. crosssection of the, throat isth'e point; of. theoretical.averagevelocity. of flow of a. fluid whenthevelocity profile is.parabolic; The arrangement described is obviously such.that there can beno effect. of. viscosity upon the diflerenti'al pressure produced by thevelocity of' the fluid at Eachliitot. tube is providedwith. an. annular.

this point, as whatever its viscosity, only its actual velocity canproduce the corresponding difierential pressure. Hence, by this means,the differential pressure is that which is produced by the actualvelocity of the fluid in passing through the contracted throat at thepoint at which measurement is made.

As stated, the pneferredttcrm. for the. contracted throat or orifice: isone which the longitudinal section of part of the throat conforms to anelliptical curve, the 'point of measurement being a minimum crosssectionon the minor axis of the ellipse, the approach cone being formed withits surface. tangent to-some point on the elliptical curve..- By the,use. of this mode of design, there will: be; little on n01 chance forthe formation of a vena contracta at the point of measurement or on the-mi'norqaxi 's of the ellipse, even at velocities higher than thosecustomarily found in practice.

'Iheiyveb t3i'i's formed; with; a. bore; 58. which is providedrwith; a.threadedrcounten-loore1m. where; by the; threaded: end: of a pipeortube.Hi maybe: secured atrthis; Zena, The-bore G91 isain. directcommumcatiorztnwith. the:- annular slit .onspacea 20;.

When. a: fluid; is passing: through. the; contracted.

throat, the .zone of;negati-.vei.cr static: DEGSSIITHEZTS in the planeof the slit 21h. on thevwpstream on positive side. Off. the pipe; ZI is.a.t1:ans.verse,- bore 12;. which. is provided with; a threadedacounterebore. 131,. whereby" the; threaded; end'. of: a; pipe 14?. maybe secured at this zone-c If wearefeirto Figure 1, we will Qbservethair:pipes. H: andc1'4i communie cate: with; means: 1.5;. measurement of;the; density ofrthe-l-iquid; flowing: through the pipe 2. It is,ofcourse, obvious-thatany'fiuid flowing in pipe-154i is under higherpresleads: to differential. pressurermeans' designated;

generally as 18. The bore 63 connects witmpipe 19 through coupling 801to; themealrislbtv The meansfl'5. and; 18;. cooperate:- thmoughz anintegral? ing linkagelto-actuate: apenarm over-a chartzand togive a.single reading: on. said xchart, whichi is representative-of the weightat a: liquid: or fluid moving through.contracted tlrroat:lm] 1 Theintegrating linkage forms a. part of" the; meter I, and said meterinclude in additionto the linkage,. a reservoir 82 adaptedto hold aliquid. suchas=mercuryz The reservoir 82 includes anv elongated. body89' and an enlarged head 99. The elongated body is provided with atapered bore 9|; the diameter of the bore gradually increasing towardthe head 90, with the wall bounding the-=bore substantially curved orbell-mouthed; at 92. The head 90 is provided with a curved wallchamber93 joining the wall 92' at amour-r3511 adaptedto be enclosed 5 bya cap 94, held to the side wall of the'hea'd in' any suitable manner;such asby screw 1301115 35. The head and the elongated body areprovidedwith lateral enlarged extensions 95 and 91" passed through openings 98and 99-inthebase-or back. wall I00 of the-meter case; The extension 951s formed witha bore I'M communicating with the curved wallchamber-9'3'. The bore I'M is-sQreW-Q the end ofa pipe Fl;

This meansspenmits; a

"A tube'lIM communicating with bore 9|, is seecured to the endof'theelongated body 89. This tube is coiled at I05, with falength thereofconnected to the base of an Operating chamber, not shown. A tube issecured to and communicates with the interior of said operating chamberadjacent the topthereof. Said tube is coiled at III in a manner similarto the coil I05, the tube finally through the medium of a wrench,'torevolve the arms carrying the Pitot tubes into the chamber 44, close thevalve 36 to itsseat, and remove the cap.

In order that the improvements made through this invention may be fullyunderstood, it, is necessary to describe briefly the principal methodsheretofore employed for the measurement of a fluid passing through apipe line.

'I'he'commonest of these methods and the one I having the widestacceptance in practice is that or chamber I63, with a first tubecommunicating I at one end with the interior thereof, which tube ispartly coiled at I65, and then secured to and in communication with apipe I66. This pipe directly connects with pipe M. A second tube is,received within the bulb or chamber I63, and has a length parallelingthe first tube, provided with a coiled end portion (not shown), andwhich connects with an upstanding pipe (not shown) I but similar to thepipe I 66.

Thissecond tube communicates with pipe II. I

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows:

Taking first that form of the invention wherein the density bulb orchamber I63 is used, liquid flows continuously through tube 14 into thebulb or chamber I63 and back through pipe II into the annular space bydifferential pressure produced by flow through the contracted throat.

The positive Pitot tube is connected with the reservoir 82 above thesurface of the liquid therein and the static Pitot tube 16 through tubeI9 with the other reservoir (not shown). Hence, when a liquid is passedthrough the contracted throat, there is a differential pressure producedby the actual velocity of the liquid in passing through the contractedthroat at the point at which measurement is made. As has been beforestated, viscosity of the liquid has no effect upon the differentialpressure produced by the velocity of the liquid at that zone of thecontracted throat at which measurement is made. Hence, in my invention,the effect of viscosity is eliminated, and consequently, there isminimized any error which might exist if the positive orupstreamconnection were made with pipe I4 and the negative connection were madeto an annulu surrounding the throat at the point of measurement. i I

I have heretofore setforth the specific position of the Pitot tubesrelative to the contracted throat III and through the arrangement shownand described, I obtain a differential pressure which is produced by theactual velocity existing in the fluid through the throat and'which is atrue and arms and replaced by new tubes Without the necessity ofbreaking down the entire mechanism,

; flow, which result from differences in the velocity,

7 less cross section than the orifice itself. Added to this is found thenecessity, especially in the The valve arrangement is such as to closeenwhich is generally described asthe orifice meter,

in which a plate having a circular orifice in its,

center is inserted ina pipe line, forming thus a contraction in the lineand producing at the orifice an increase in velocity of the fluid. Inorder that this device may be employed as a mode of measurement, it isnecessary to indicate or to record the difference in the pressure in thepipe line upstream and downstream of this orifices It is plain that theintroduction of such an orifice in a pipe line constitutes anobstruction to flow and that there must constantly be produced adifference in pressure upstreamand downstream from this orifice, and inpractice, this differe'nceof pressure is indicatedor recorded by asuitable instrument and on the basis of' this observed or recordeddifference of pressure, the velocity of flow through theorificeiscomputed and the quantity finally determined on the basi of thisvelocity and the cross sectional area of the orifice.

This widely accepted and indeed conventional mode of fluid measurement,however, presents in its practical application a; large number ofvariables originating in those changed conditions of to the difierentialpressure is that of a venacontracta downstream of the orifice and alwaysof case of a gas; for applying corrections to the recorded differentialpressure covering the pressure of the fluid, the specific gravity of thefluid, its temperature, and in the case of a gas, the deviation fromBoyleslaw. All of these factors have to be recognized under the commonmethe 'the elements necessary to make these corrections are available,there remains an element tending to vitiate these results thatoriginatesinthe condition of turbulence of the flowing stream above and below theorifice, thisconditionof turbulence varying with the velocity of flow,the viscosity of the fluid, and the frictional resistance of the wallsof the conduit. It is thus seenthat under the commonly established andaccepted practice of orifice measurement of either gases or liquids, theconditions under which such measurement must be made are so complexastomake the attainment of accuracy extremely difficult.

Where liquids aloneare concerned in the measurement to be made, certainof the factors which must be recognized and corrected in the measurementof gas are absent, and others not im- ,portant in gas measurement becomea serious matter in the measurement of liquids. In this case, in orderthat an accurate measurement of a liquid passing through a pipelineshall be accorrections. applied in. order to secure an accurate result;The firstot these. factors. is the specific ravity or density of theliquid, as upon this factor'will; depend the valuexof. thedifierentialpressure: observed or recorded; Second, is-the viscosity ofthe. liquid-3 itself, which has an influence on the rate; of. now and.the: extent to which frictional resistance enters into thefinal:result.- Third, a correction must-bezmadeior the. effect of temperatureon the actual densityof. the-liquid, and its efiectrupon the fluidityofthe liquid in increasing. or' decreasing itsz-viscosity. Where: thesefactors are: known. or: accurately 'determinable; they can be.appliedthrough proper mathematical processes as; corrections which when.integrated with. the differential pressure. may-"give results approximating; thetruth even-wherethe flow is through a flat; plate orifice-1interposed in a pipe line. However, itis; obvious; that if thesecorrections are'to be. complete, means. must. in every casebeprovided-forinstanceinr-the-case of gas measurementfor accuratelyrecording the temperature; pressure and-specific; gravity of. the gas atthe pointotmeasurement, requiring, otcourse, three. separate instrumentsfor this purpose, in addition to. the; instrument: which records. thedifferential pressure.

In the case. or a liquid. measurement under the ordinary mode. ofapplying the orifice; measuremen-17,, accuracy in: results. demands:that thereshall. be; a complete-record. made. of. thespecific gravity,temperature; and.:vis.cosity of. the flowingliquidat thepoint. of:measurement, this again requiring for. completely. satisfactory. datathe.-

use-of a. specific gravity; recorder, a recording viscosimeter; and. a,recording, thermometer, in. addition again to the diiierentialpressurerecorder. Having complete data of. this and'through the use-of theproperiormulae, a reasonably ac curate liquidmeasurement; is possiblethrough the use of an orifice. in. a pipeline. It will be ob-- served.that; in present. conventional practice, that even. whererall of thesedataiare made availab1e, =their employment, ascorrection factors together with the-record oi the differential. pressure is. not. automatic.but-requires the application of definite mathematical processes in orderto arrive at thefinal result.- i p In order. to illustrate clearly onepoint of importance in: the measurement of. liquids passing through anorifice interposed in apipe l-ine, it is to beremembered: that adifferential. pressure recorder'can initself recognize only thedifference in-pressure existing between twopoints, and that but. is of.very much. less importance while on the other hand the densityvariations. in the case of. gas. are very much greater than these commonwith liquids,- due to the fact that the gas may be highly compressed andhave, therefore, a relatively great. density while. the compressibilityof the liquids is. insignificant and its density is effected onlybyvariations intemperature. I

oomph-shed, three-factorsnrustibe;recognizedand' Finally; tojs'unr itup, with invention, iti is seen. that the: meter comprising; as itdoesthea' dynamic.- element: which is represented. by the arrangement ofRitoti tubesrin. a. contracted throat.v

in the. pipe line and therecording and. integrating element: connected,as shown in the drawings, to the pipeline, producesby fully automaticac-- tion when the density bulb is employed a: single line; recordv ona. chart has. a valuev which, under present practice in. the: orificemeasurement of; g as,,can onlybe attained by:

1. A record".v of, the differential pressure;

2.. A record. of the temperature of. the gas;

3. A record of thepressure: of-the: gas;

4a.. A record. of the specific gravity of the; gas;

- 5; Amodificationof thedensityas required. by

thed'eviationsfrom Boyleslaw'; and i 6. The calculations; necessary to.integrate. of. these. last. four: elements: with the. diiierential.

pressure, and the final application of an. empiri-- cal. coefficientwhich. has been.laboriouslyc'develroped to cover varying conditions or.flow within thezpipe line. s

I claim:

1.. An, instrument responding to flow in. a. fluid: conduit comprising aPitot tube having an operative. position wherein. its, openingis; withinand intermediate the ends ofsaid. conduit, means.

beyondithe path.- of fluid. flow pivotally supporting said. tube.against: axial. rotation, and amusing for said" means; receivingsaid.tube in an inoperative position. i 2. An instrument responding to flowin atfiuidi conduit comprisin ia Pitot: tube having an.operativepositionv wherein. its opening; is eccentrically disposedwithin said conduitmeans having:-

an axis. inv a. plane. parallel to. said conduitandv beyond. the path.of fluid flow pivotally supporting. said tube, a housing for said meansreceiving. said. tube in. an inoperative. position, and) means for'projecting and; retracting said tube;

through. the wall of. said conduitv about itspiv otal supporting meansto andfrom said operative position.

3. An instrument responding to flow aifiuid conduit comprising a Pitottube having 'an operative position wherein its opening; is within said.conduit-means beyond the path of fluid flow pivotally supporting saidtube on an axis-trans verse with respect to said tube for arcuate movement; betweenoperative: and inoperative positions, a housing for saidmeans receiving said.

tube in an inoperative position, means defining a.

the walLoi said conduit between its operative-and.

inoperative positions.

5. An instrument responding to flow in. a fluidi conduit comprising a.Pitot tube, meanspivotallyy mounting said tube for arcuate. movementfrom an, operative position. within said conduit to an.inoperativeposition beyond the path of fluidfiow, a housing to receive;said tubein. its inoperative position, means. defining a port throughwhich said tube is: movable between. its operative and.

inoperative positions, a closure for said port, and

. means accessible exteriorly of said conduit for operating said closureto cover and uncover said port.

6. An instrument responding to flow in a fluid conduit comprising acontracted throat provided in said conduit, a Pitot tube, meanspivotally mounting said tube for arcuate movement to' and from anoperative. position with its opening in said throat and radially spacedabout .7 of the throat radius from the throat axis.

7. An instrument responding to differential pressures in a fluid.conduit comprising a contracted throat provided in said conduit, andpositive and static Pitot tubes supported with their openings insubstantially the same cross sectional plane of 'said throat andradially spaced about .7

of the throat radius .from the throat axis.

8. An instrument responding to difierential pressures in a fluid conduitcomprising a con tracted throat provided in said conduit, positive andstatic Pitot tubes pivotally supported in an operative position withtheir openings in said throat, a housing beyond the fluid path of saidconduit for receiving said tubes in an inoperative g position, and pivotmeans in said housing about which said tubes may be shifted to and fromsaid positions. l

9. An instrument responding to differential pressures in a fluid conduitcomprising positive and static Pitot tubes having their openings inoperative positions eccentrically arranged substantially in asinglecross sectional plane of said conduit, and pivot means radially spacedfrom said conduit and extending transversely thereof supporting saidtubes with'respect to said con-' duit.

10. An instrument responding to difierential pressures in a fluidconduit comprising pivotally mounted positive and static Pitot tubeswhich in operative position have their openings arranged substantiallyin a single cross sectional plane of said conduit, a housing beyond thefluid path of erative position, and means accessible exteriorly of saidconduit for shifting said tubes through arcuate paths to and from saidpositions.

said conduit for receiving said tubes inan inop- 11. An instrumentresponding to difierential pressures in a fluid conduit comprisingpositive and static Pitot tubes having their openings arrangedsubstantially ina single cross sectional plane of said conduit at adistance from the conduit axis approximately .7 the radius of saidconduit at said plane.

12. An instrument responding to differential pressures in a fluidconduit comprising positive and static Pitot tubes, tubular memberscommuin said conduit, a housing beyond the fluid path of said conduitfor receiving said tubes in an inoperative position, means defining aport between i said conduit and said housing, and means accessibleexteriorly of said conduit for closing said port'when said tubesaredisposed in said housing.

14. An instrument responding to differential pressures in a fluidconduit comprising positive and static Pitot tubes pivotally supportedin their operative positions with their openings in said conduit, ahousing beyond the fluid path of said conduit for receiving said tubesin an inoperative position, and tubular means communicating with saidtubes accessible exteriorly of said. conduit for shifting said tubesbetween their operative and inoperative positions.

. GEORGE S. BINCKLEY.

